Bitter Melons © Denzil Green Bitter Melons are an Asian, tropical gourd with a bitter taste that comes from naturally-occurring quinine in them. They have ribbed, warty skin, and are oblong, like a small, fat cucumber. Both the fruit and the leaves are used. They grow on an annual, climbing vine that produces both male…
Fuzzy Melons are a type of edible wax gourd. They are not just a young form of Winter Melon. They grow on annual vines that can be allowed to grow over the ground, or can be trained to a trellis. The skin on the gourds feels fuzzy from fine white hairs on the green, blotched…
Almost all gourds are inedible squashes that are grown for ornamental purposes. There are only a few that are used for food, such as Luffa Gourds, though Luffa are perhaps better known for the sponges that can also be extracted from them. Related entries
Luffa Gourds © Denzil Green Luffa Gourds are closely related to cucumbers. All varieties have thin skin, but one variety (Luffa acutangula) has ridges on it; the other (Luffa cylindrica aka Luffa aegyptica), has smooth skin. The plant is an annual vine that grows from seed. The seeds have a tough shell on them, so…
Opo squash are long, green squash with a mild taste, like zucchini / courgette. Peel and seed then use for cooking. It holds its shape well when cooked. Choose young ones; older ones can get bitter tasting.
